| Materials Needed: | | | | For a smoother transition, sand the bottom edge |
| 3/8" X 4' X 8' sheets of plywood | | | | of the top sheet at an angle flush with the |
| 8' 2x4'selectric, handheld or bench | | | | ground. Check for jagged splinters. Sand or paint if |
| sawshandsawhammer & nailselectric sander | | | | desired. Paint will make your ramp faster! Duct |
| sandpaperdrafting compassstring & chalkgarden | | | | tape, airplane or electrical tape or aluminum strips |
| hosesawhorsesnail punchink penwood screws | | | | may be added to smooth the transition's bottom |
| 3/8" PVC pipepushpin | | | | edge. |
| 1) Decide on the type of ramp(s) you want to | | | | * String and Compass Method |
| build, sketch out the design and dimensions on | | | | Figure how much transition curve you want (in |
| paper. | | | | feet & inches) and how much 'vert, if any. Tie |
| 2) Acquire the materials required, and as much | | | | one end of the string around the pushpin and stick |
| wood as you can get your hands on | | | | it in the sheet as shown. Holding the string taught, |
| 3) Find a work space to use (garage, backyard, | | | | measure out exactly the amount of transition and |
| etc.) and lay out your supplies. If you're planning | | | | mark this on the string with an ink pen. Tie the |
| to build a fairly large structure (permanent) try to | | | | drafting compass to the other end of the string |
| build it on site. | | | | and tighten it so the slipknot is right on top of the |
| 4) For ramps with curved transitions, you will | | | | mark you made. Holding the string taut, swing the |
| need to use the string-and-compass method*. | | | | compass from the sheet's edge in a quarter-circle, |
| 5) Once you've drawn and cut your templates, | | | | marking the template with the chalk. You may |
| next comes the bracing. | | | | need to move the contraption around to get the |
| 6) Once you've done the framework, you'll most | | | | desired curve and best use of space! Place sheet |
| likely need to prep the top piece(s) of the | | | | on sawhorses and cut out templates carefully. |
| plywood (which must bend to fit the transition | | | | NEW ADDITION ON DECREASING |
| without breaking). Do this by propping up the | | | | TRANSITIONS: |
| sheet(s)--already cut to size--at a sloping angle | | | | If you want to make a ramp with a decreasing |
| and soak with a hose at low pressure for an hour | | | | transition, you need to modify the above steps |
| or so. | | | | and instead of using a pushpin, use a round object |
| As the wood becomes soaked, apply an | | | | that is 6 inches to 3 feet in diameter, such as a |
| increasing amount of weight to the center of the | | | | paint can or a round garbage can. Attach the |
| board(s)--using bricks or something similar--until | | | | string to the round object and somehow secure it |
| the wood attains the desired curve. | | | | to the wood in place of the pushpin. |
| Now nail the wood onto the framework's 2x4's If | | | | As the string winds around the round object, it will |
| your ramp is to have coping, make sure to leave | | | | get shorter and your transition will become tighter. |
| enough space for it to fit snugly. Always go | | | | This is called a decreasing radius transition and it is |
| WITH the grain of the wood while bending and | | | | very cool when making launch ramps and quarter |
| apply the ply! | | | | pipes. |